New Delhi: Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from ruling National Conference met Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday, and submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting “key constitutional, democratic and humanitarian concerns of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir”, a party press release said.
It said during the meeting, the MPs — Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and Gurwinder Singh Oberoi — drew Home minister Shah’s attention to the humanitarian issues faced by prisoners from Jammu & Kashmir who are lodged in jails outside the Union Territory.
They highlighted the severe hardships faced by families due to long distances, financial constraints, and limited access to legal and social support. The MPs urged that prisoners who do not face serious criminal charges should be released at the earliest on humanitarian grounds.
They further urged that prisoners facing serious charges should be transferred back to the Valley. Such a transfer would ensure timely access to legal counsel, court proceedings and would also enable their families to access them without the burden of long-distance travel and heavy financial expenses, the press release informed.
It said the MPs also strongly urged the early restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir, underscoring that this demand is in line with repeated assurances given by the Government of India as well as the observations of the Supreme Court.
They stressed that restoration of statehood is vital for upholding constitutional values, strengthening democratic institutions and fulfilling the political and administrative aspirations of the people of the region.
The MPs also sought the immediate notification of the Business Rules for the Union Territory, stating that the absence of clearly defined rules is hampering effective administration and democratic functioning.
They emphasized that timely notification of the Business Rules would bring clarity in governance, enhance accountability, and ensure smoother coordination between elected representatives and the administration in the larger public interest of Jammu & Kashmir.
